West London rivals Fulham and Brentford face off at Craven Cottage on Saturday lunchtime in a huge clash at the top end of the Championship.

Fulham are third in the table, six points off the automatic promotion places, while neighbours Brentford are four points further back in fourth.

Match preview

The three-month hiatus came at a bad time for Fulham, who had some momentum on their side in their pursuit of a top-two finish.

Scott Parker's side beat Swansea City and Preston North End in successive home games, sandwiched by away draws at Derby County and Bristol City, to close the gap on second place.

West Bromwich Albion picked up just one point from the last six on offer, though they are still six points better off than Fulham with only nine matches left to play.

Fulham know that they have to hit the ground running if they are to have a realistic shot of going up automatically, but they have two very tough games on their return to action.

After taking on Brentford this weekend, Parker's men then turn focus to league leaders Leeds United the following week, while a trip to West Brom is also on the horizon.

Brentford are not entirely out of the automatic promotion picture, with a favourable set of results this week potentially seeing them move to within seven points of second.

However, the immediate priority for the Bees is to hold off the chasing pack to secure a playoff spot, with just seven points separating them and Swansea down in 11th.

Thomas Frank's side had a mixed time of things prior to the coronavirus-enforced shutdown, following a five-match winless run with a thumping 5-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday.

They remain winless in three away from home, though, and that could prove problematic as Fulham boast the best home form in the division - 12 wins and two draws in 19 matches.

Incredibly, however, the Cottagers have won just one of their last 18 home games against Brentford in all competitions - a 1-0 victory back in April 1990.

That is a run that they will need to put an end to on Saturday if they are to keep alive their hopes of an automatic return to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Fulham's Championship form: DLDWWD

Brentford's Championship form: DDDLDW

Team News

Fulham will be without loanee Terence Kongolo for the remainder of the season because of a foot injury sustained in February.

Central defender Alfie Mawson will also miss this first game back because of a knee problem, but Parker otherwise has a fully-fit squad to choose from.

That includes a fit and firing Aleksandar Mitrovic, who leads the Championship scoring charts and has won more points with his goals than any other player in the league this term.

The prolonged hiatus, meanwhile, has given Brentford an opportunity to get some key players back to full fitness.

Pontus Jansson, Mathias Jensen and Kamo Mokotjo would have sat this match out had it gone ahead as originally scheduled in March, but all three players are now available.

Said Benrahma has formed an impressive partnership with Ollie Watkins and Bryan Mbeumo this season, leading to speculation that he is a target for Premier League giants Chelsea.

Fulham possible starting lineup:
Rodak; Christie, Hector, Ream, Bryan; Arter, Cairney; Knockaert, Reid, Cavaleiro; Mitrovic

Brentford possible starting lineup:
Martin; Dalsgaard, Pinnock, Jansson, Henry; Mokotjo, Jensen, Dasilva; Mbeumo, Watkins, Benrahma

We say: Fulham 2-1 Brentford

Brentford have won just two of their last 10 away league outings, while Fulham have an unrivalled 38 home points this term in the second tier. Form may ultimately go out of the window this weekend, but we are still backing the hosts to grind out all three points against their West London rivals.